Rune Star Springer

NAPPANEE — The mother of a Nappanee child who was severely neglected by others will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, after failing to report her child had been abused.

Rune Star Springer, 26, 9872 E. King Arthur Trail, Cromwell, is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 3 felony. Springer’s sentencing will take place in Kosciusko Superior Court 1.

Jammy Stacy, Elkhart; Travis Tillotson, Claypool; Fayette Robinette, Etna Green; and Annette Priestley, White Pigeon, Mich., are also facing neglect charges in this case.

According to court documents, on March 2, 2018, Nappanee police officers responded to a report of a child in need of service at 1200 N. Main St. Apartment 103, Nappanee and discovered a young boy who was injured and in need of medical attention.

Springer said that she did not cause the injuries to the child, as he had been in the care of Stacy for about a year. According to Springer, on March 1, 2018, Stacy and Priestley dropped the child off at Springer’s residence with visible injuries all over his body. Springer said she didn’t call the police because Stacy told her not to, as they would both be arrested for child abuse.

Tillotson, the child’s stepfather, was shocked to see the injuries to the child and wanted to get him medical treatment, but Springer convinced him not to.

The child had multiple pieces of his scalp missing, ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches. The septum of his nose had been cut out, and what appeared to be fingernail marks were dug into his left cheek and scabbed over. Both of the child’s arms were broken in multiple places and his arm sockets were broken to the point where the child was unable to raise his hands over his shoulders.

His teeth were broken from trauma and his lower lip had been cut. The child was also underweight and malnourished. A doctor at an area hospital said that if the child didn’t receive treatment at that point, he would have died within 48 hours.

In October 2017, Springer had taken the child to Stacy to live with her. Springer would come to Stacy’s residence for an occasional visit, with the last visit being in December 2017.

Tillotson’s sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27.

Stacy and Robinette both currently have three-day jury trials scheduled in this case, which will take place in April.

Priestley also has a three-day jury trial scheduled for this case, which will take place in June.